Andros Townsend dedicated his first goal for Luton Town and the win over former club Newcastle United to captain Tom Lockyer.
Townsend’s 25th-minute header sealed all three points on an emotional afternoon at Kenilworth Road, and he said afterwards: “I’m extremely happy. Forst and foremost, that’s for the captain – it’s for Tom.
“He’s put his body, he’s put his life on the line for this club on many occasions, so that win was for him, and it was huge relief because we’ve been there before, and we’ve let leads slip in the last minute, the last second, the last kick of the game.
“So it was nice to see one through for the fans, for Tom, for everyone connected with Luton Town. It was just amazing to get the three points.”
Asked how the week has been for the squad since their team-mate suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch at Bournemouth a week ago, Townsend said: “It's been tough. Everyone deals with it differently. In a way, it took the pressure off. You realise there are bigger things than football.
“There wasn’t much tactical work throughout the week. Normally we work tirelessly on our tactics, but it was about ‘Boys, go and do it for your captain’, and pretty much that was it. It’s been a tough week, but when you get three points at the end of it, it makes it all the sweeter.”
The former England winger’s goal was just the second header of his career to find the back of the net.
“Oh man, I was delighted,” he replied. “Everyone was expecting the trademark one from outside the box. I hit one over the roof five minutes earlier, but listen, I don’t think I’ve scored in a couple of years in the Premier League. It’s been a long road back to where I am now, so I’ll take a header, I’ll take it off my backside; any way to get a goal to help this team get three points.”
On his return to top Premier League form, the ex-Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Everton man added: “I think the real moment was the assist against Man City. I got a bit emotional after that one at half-time because it’s been a long road back, and people telling ‘You can’t do it any more, your legs have gone, blah, blah, blah'.
“To get an assist against the treble winners, it really was the moment that it all hit me. But I want to score goals, I want to be on the scoresheet, I want to be contributing, so a goal is just another miletone like the assist was, and I’m looking to get better.
“I feel I’m getting sharper with every game I’m playing. I’m better, I’m sharper, I’m more reliable on the ball, I’m getting crosses into the box. I’m 32 years of age, but I’m only going to get better the more time I’m getting on the pitch.”